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What local holiday events do you like to participate in? 3 Getting back to our grass roots _ , 4 EDITORML'OUCV:WthmJWWMAMWIwu-mwucml (Mimi-“WNW um.- compollln. “non to do no lnon will In (on “WWW: “- ’7'.“va town-flaw: 1M muMDMMWH-Luwm nun-Minimum ‘ Whitchurch-Stouffville is a growing community, but one that continues to maintain a friendly, small town atmosphere. And it’s the job of your local newspaper, with your input, to help keep that atmosphere alive and well. Welcome to the first edition of the Stouffville Free Press. We wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We encourage you to send us information about your events for our calendar and to tell us what you would like to see in your local paper. We also invite you to visit stouffvilleonlinecom, where highlights of the newspaper will be featured every month, and where you can comment directly on an article or send a letter to the editor with just a click of your mouse. The Stouffville Free Press is created for and by the residents of Whitchurch-Stouffville. Each month we will offer local features on everything from sports to the arts. Popular local columnists will include Luke Anderson, Ruth LeBlanc and Ralph Pohlman, and award-winning cartoonist Walt Radda will take a monthly look at the funny side of life in Whitchurch-Stouffville. Traditional community papers benefit small-town retailers with limited advertising budgets, providing them with an uncluttered, local environment in which to market their goods and services. Readers can find out what's going on in the community they live in, and can use the newspaper as a forum for their own stories and ideas. We also believe our community has room for both regional and local publications, and that competition is not only healthy, but desirable. And we are not alone. The Scugog Standard, established last fall following the purchase of The Port Perry Star, has proved immensely successful. In Uxbridge, another independent, The Uxbridge Cosmos, has been warmly welcomed by readers starved of local news. Pew independent local papers survive in an area dominated by maior corporate players, whose commitment to shareholders and the bottom line rules out the traditional in-depth coverage of small, individual municipalities. At the Stouffville Free Press, we believe that many residents and retailers would welcome an inde- pendent, local monthly. I *_ 'vâ€"---â€"“--..l I III-VI“ I‘VCIIU Sniall town newspapers have long been under serge m Ontano. “rub the increase of corporate ownership, the emphasis has shift- ed from local to regional news in order to create larger, more pow- erful markets for big advertisers. ‘The challenge for the newspaper business is not to stay in busi ness; it_’ s to stay in ioumalism.’ Harold Evans December 2005 We amnd ma Strawbany Fastinl to calabrata Canada Day, (in Sun Claus Panda, tho Christmas Eva Sanka at lamonvllla Unnad Church and fireworks on Vldorla Day and labour Day. Holdl w-llls We low to lulu (M m. to the Sam cloul Porodo nod to no (ham In (boll school Christmas Concom. Jon Form To the Editor: Congratulations to the Stouffville Free Pressl The conveyance of news, information and events is a key component of bringing Whitchurch-Stouffville together as a community. The sharing of information provides a sound base of knowledge which in turn leads to proactive debate and discussion on emerging issues in the municipality. Whitchurch-Stouffville has a long history of community-based initiatives, volunteerism and local festivities which l hope you will promote and profile as part of your monthly programming. All signs point to the fact that Whitchurch-Stouffville is the newest upcoming hub of economic develop- ment, and having local newspapers targeted to our community is a great step for us. I know that your news information coverage will be the topic of conver- sation on our park benches and in local coffee shops. On behalf of the Mayor, Council and Town residents we wish you success as you profile our commu- nity within York Region. Sue Sherban Mayor Local news coverage helps bring the community togethér 5mm- 3 Pam-I. CM rum-l M lights a tin Sam (km land, and oflm community mum III:- Io all. part. Stan Campbcll My wlfo sci-whom Readers Write WMMUIWH“ magnum-panama» r.o.mm.m.o-1owm-M/meam) “and“. Wm'wfitthn WWII-hm“ 3. \ Ianendthe “Mott“. the (mad- 0 5m Festival. I Rid In R W “W I . MN: M supfifosyw. he